Sunday, January 28, 2007
I don't like Haydn.
I don't like Cambridge for coming up with the horribly sadistic idea of making this year's batch of MEP students learn about Haydn.
like, everything about Haydn. Do you know how old is he? 77. 77 freakin' years old. and his London Symphony is long. [the book is mustard yellow =D]
Anyway, the point of this entry is that I don't see why we're being tested about a composer's life besides having to analyze his works. I mean we're supposed to learn music. Like knowing what contact of his died in Vienna in 1766 is going to help in practicals? I suppose it's useful to learn random facts about some composers so you can impress people, like oh I know what's Debussy's favourite colour or whatever will make others gasp and applaud but it's not even remotely like you've pulled off his Clair de Lune.
Ok, maybe knowing about the guy will help you see patterns or something in his pieces. Which helps in the analysis.
but I'd stilll rather learn his pieces instead of him.